CHAPTER: PERMISSIBILITY OF OBSERVING NAFL (SUPEREROGATORY) PRAYER IN CONGREGATION AND THAT TOO ON THE MAT OR THE COVERING CLOTH OR ANY OTHER THING WHICH IS FREE FROM FILTH AND RUBBISH
No. 1387
Anas b. Malik reported that his grandmother, Mulaika, invited the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) to a dinner which she had prepared. He (the Prophet) ate out of that and then said: Stand up so that I should observe prayer (in order to bless) you Anas b. Malik said: I stood up on a mat (belonging to us) which had turned dark on account of its long use. I sprinkled water over it (in order to soften it), and the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) stood upon it, and I and an orphan formed a row behind him (the Prophet) and the old woman was behind us, and the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) led us in two rak'ahs of prayer and then went back.
No. 1388
Anas b. Malik reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) wits the best among people in character. On occasions, the time of prayer would come while he was in our house. He would then order to spread the mat lying under him. That was dusted and then water was sprinkled over it. The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) then led the prayer and we stood behind him, and that mat was made of the leaves of date-palm.
No. 1389
Thabit reported on the authority of Anas: The Prophet of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) came to us and there was none in our house but I, my mother and my aunt Umm Haram. He (the Prophet) said: Stand up so that I may lead you in prayer (and there was no time for prescribed prayer). He led us in prayer. A person said to Thabit: Where stood Anas with him (the Prophet)? He replied: He was on the right side. He then blessed us, the members of the household with every good of this world and of the Hereafter. My mother said: Messenger of Allaah (and then, pointing towards Anas, said), here is your little servant, invoke the blessing of Allaah upon him too. He then blessed me with every good, and he concluded his blessings for me (with these words): Allaah! increase his wealth, and his children and make (them the source of) blessing for him.
No. 1390
Abdullah b. al-Mukhtar heard Musa b. Anas narrating on the authority of Anas b. Malik that the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) led him, his mother or his aunt in prayer. He made me, stand on his right side and made the woman stand, behind us.
No. 1391
This hadith has also been narrated by Shu'ba with this chain of transmitters.
No. 1392
Maimuna, the wife of the Prophet of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam), reported: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said prayer while I was by his side, and at times when he prostrated his cloth touched me, and he prayed on a small mat.
No. 1393
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that he went to the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) and found him observing prayer on a mat and prostrating on that.